Government proposes to reduce penalty for failure to obey HRCM orders, from house arrest to fine

An amendment has been proposed to the Human Rights Commission Act, to change the penalty for failure to obey orders issued by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) from house arrest of three months, to a fine of between MVR 3,000 and MVR 25,000.

This amendment to Article 26 of the Human Rights Commission Act, proposed by the government, was submitted to parliament by Ungoofaaru MP Jaufar Dhaaoodh.

The amendment also proposes to change the penalty for government employees who fail to obey the commission’s orders, from dismissal from employment to suspension of 14 days.

At the debate on the amendment bill at the parliament sitting today, members of opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said that the bill undermines the authority of the HRCM. They argued that the government aims to weaken independent institutions.

In response, Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the ruling party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan said that the present penalty of house arrest is too severe for this offence, and needs to be reduced.